Islamic Emirate issued a statement claiming responsibility for a huge truck blast which went off in the early hours of Monday morning local time targeting a compound in Kabul, Afghanistan which houses foreign contractors. The incident happened at around 01:25 local time (20:55 GMT Sunday). Soon after Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesperson tweeted,
North Gate guest house/hotel in #Kabul city under martyr attack, tens of foreign invaders killed/wounded so far
A BBC report stated, “North Gate, which is close to the US-run Bagram air base, is a heavily guarded compound. The facility was attacked by militants three years ago.”
Bashir Safi, Vet-Adviser Media and Information Operation to Regional Command East and US Forces in Afghanistan tweeted,
“Hopefully Afghan Civilians, US Military contractors from @DynCorpIntl & SP3O are safe in Kabul tonight blast on Camp North-gate”
An account under Abdulqahar Balkhi affiliated with Islamic Emirate who tweets in English posted the following updates,
At around 1am, a martyrdom seeker blew up entrance & security barriers to key hotel (North Gate) in #Kabul frequented by foreigners
Multiple martyrdom seekers armed with heavy/light arms have entered hotel & are targeting foreigners (b/w 300-400 visited every night)
Tens of invaders reportedly killed/wounded inside the hotel so far, more details later
A nice hotel/camp for foreign invaders goes up in flames
An official Statement was later released by Islamic Emirate as follows,
“Key guest house under attack in Kabul, tens of invaders killed and wounded”
KABUL, Aug. 01 – Amid the ongoing rapid ‘Omari’ spring operation, a key American guest house – Northgate Hotel – located close to Charkhi Pul area in PD9 of Kabul city was targeted by a martyrdom seeker with a truck bomb at around 01:00 am local time today.
As the powerful explosion destroyed all security barriers and a large part of the building, a team of martyrdom seekers armed with heavy and light weapons, flame throwers, rocket launchers and machine guns entered the hotel and began engaging the remaining foreigners.
Initial information shows that the martyrdom seekers are bravely continuing their operation which has so far killed and wounded over 100 invaders. Complete details about the casualties will be updated later as clashes are still underway at the moment.
As the Mujahideen began frequently targeting guest houses of foreigners especially those of American invaders throughout Kabul, this hotel (Northgate) had become the latest place of vulgar and profanity for the foreigners as about 300-400 stayed there every night.
It must also be mentioned that there are no civilian compounds and buildings close to the said area and no losses have been inflicted upon the common people.
More details about the ongoing situation will be updated as information arrives.
Spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
27/10/1437 Hijri Lunar
11/05/1395 Hijri Solar 01/08/2016 Gregorian
End
At present the operation is ongoing to clear the area of insurgents and there is no indication of the number of casualties from official state or military sources. This latest attack comes at a time when security appears to be getting worse. Taliban are gaining considerable ground in Afghanistan with increased operations each day. See latest post from ongoing Operation Omari for 31st July 2016,
There are also regular reports of defections from militia to the Taliban and growing concern over serious human rights violations linked to members of the Junbish militia loyal to First Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum. The notorious general was alleged to have connections to the Dasht-e Leili massacre where hundreds of detainees were “stuffed into sealed cargo containers and left to asphyxiate” in sweltering heat.
“The Death Convoy Of Afghanistan”
http://europe.newsweek.com/death-convoy-afghanistan-144273
Links
“Afghanistan: Forces Linked to Vice President Terrorize Villagers
Prosecute Militia Members for Killings”
https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/07/31/afghanistan-forces-linked-vice-president-terrorize-villagers
“Rights Group Demands Prosecution of Afghan Militia”
“Watchdog: Afghanistan Has Lost Control of More Than One-Third of Nation”
Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.
Carol Anne Grayson (Radical Sister) blog 